White Ghost, Sakazuki, and Borsalino stood facing one another. None of them lowered their guard. No one knew whether the other side would attack again in the next instant.
Borsalino's clothes were in tatters. With both hands in his pockets, he watched the Marines retreat.
"Looks like we don't have to fight anymore. White Ghost, you really are scary."
Sakazuki was covered in sword wounds, all carved out by White Ghost.
Kizaru was too fast. Every time White Ghost was about to land a hit, he slipped away at the first opportunity. As expected, this man was the deepest-hidden monster in the Navy.
Sakazuki said nothing. Magma churned across his body. It was obvious he was furious and still wanted to continue, but as a soldier, obeying orders was his duty.
Issho tapped his cane sword along the ground and came to White Ghost's side.
"Looks like it was just as you said. The Navy won't fight to the death."
White Ghost glanced at the withdrawing Marines.
"Sengoku isn't stupid. He knows why I waited here. We could've run from the beginning."
"You didn't have to become a criminal," Sakazuki said coldly.
Kizaru looked at White Ghost strangely.
"Was it worth it? Just to step onto the stage?"
White Ghost's lips curled, his face turning savage.
"I just want to tell some people that D isn't the only name allowed on the stage. Sometimes, even a rabbit will bite when it's cornered."
Borsalino rubbed his forehead, sounding helpless.
"You can't even find those people. There's nothing you can do to them."
"One day, they'll jump out. When that day comes, as long as I'm still alive, they'll be the ones suffering."
White Ghost watched as his crew gathered beside him. Some were covered in wounds. Some were completely fine.
White Ghost glanced at Issho.
Issho nodded. His cane sword slowly left its sheath.
Kuzan, who had just arrived, and the other two Admirals looked at them seriously, immediately on guard. None of them knew what White Ghost's group intended to do.
Boom.
With a loud rumble, the land beneath Issho and the others began to rise. The entire group floated into the sky, leaving White Ghost alone below.
Those watching the live broadcast, as well as the people at the scene, stared in confusion.
Was White Ghost staying behind to cover their retreat?
Whitebeard, Sengoku, and the others narrowed their eyes.
The faces of Akainu and the other two darkened.
White Ghost looked at the three of them with a savage grin. Black-red arcs crackled over his greatsword.
"I'll have to trouble you three today. Otherwise, stray cats and dogs will keep coming to bother me."
As soon as he finished speaking, his Conqueror's Haki erupted.
Rumble!
The surrounding ground shook violently under the impact.
"Hey, hey. Do you really need to go this far?" Kuzan's hands frosted over as he looked at White Ghost oddly.
Kizaru felt the pressure of that Conqueror's Haki, and his usually sleazy face finally became more serious.
"Your Conqueror's Haki feels strange."
Magma churned faster around Akainu. There was excitement in his eyes.
The wind howled under the impact of White Ghost's Haki. White Ghost's face twisted into a ferocious smile.
"Hahahaha! Come on, you three. I haven't had a deathmatch in a long time. Let's fight to our hearts' content today!"
"Gale: Dawnbreaker!"
Swish!
A massive sword aura swept toward the three Admirals.
The three responded solemnly. That slash was coated in Haki. They could not simply turn intangible.
"Great Eruption!"
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
Boom!
The attacks collided, and the shockwave shook the ground.
White Ghost's eyes were blood-red as he opened his mouth and spat out small thunderballs.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The Haki-coated thunderballs shot toward the three of them.
Boom, boom, boom!
One crater after another exploded across the earth.
Borsalino fired a laser from midair.
White Ghost split it apart with a sword aura, then stomped down, shattering the ice forming beneath his feet.
"Great Eruption!"
Sakazuki came at him head-on.
Boom!
The greatsword collided with the magma fist, and the air around them seemed to distort.
White Ghost's wings shook. He vanished from his original position, causing Kuzan's sneak attack to miss.
In the air, White Ghost sent Kizaru flying with a slash, then immediately gathered golden flames in his mouth and fired them down at Kuzan.
"Ah, la la. Mythical Zoans really are troublesome."
Kuzan raised both hands toward the incoming golden flames, cold air surging from his arms.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
An ice bird flew upward and collided with the flames.
Boom!
The instant they touched, the ice bird melted into water. White mist filled the air.
The golden flames broke through the ice bird and blasted into the ground below. Unfortunately, Kuzan had already escaped.
White Ghost's wings shook again. A sonic boom exploded as he descended toward Sakazuki with a sword strike.
Boom!
The tremendous force drove Sakazuki backward. Akainu gritted his teeth and pushed back.
White Ghost sent him flying with a sweep of his tail, then turned and slashed at Kuzan.
Boom, boom, boom!
The level of the battle rose again. Explosions, sword auras, lasers, ice, and magma flew everywhere.
Boom, boom, boom!
The entire island trembled. Gion cursed while ordering the warships to retreat.
They had to retreat. Even the surface of the sea was being shaken into waves, and the warships rocked violently.
The other spectators had long since fled into the distance. At this level of combat, even a stray aftershock could kill them.
In the sky, Morgans was broadcasting with his bird face twisted in excitement. He had thought the battle was over. He never expected White Ghost to be this reckless, challenging the three Admirals by himself.
"Quick! Quick! Keep the cameras on them! Don't miss this chance!"
Morgans shouted orders at his subordinates, then tossed away the draft praising the Navy's victory.
"Flame Dragon Slash!"
On the battlefield, White Ghost roared.
A golden fire dragon flew toward the three Admirals. Morgans' camera flashed nonstop.
Gion watched the battlefield, her hand clenched around the hilt of Konpira. Her beautiful face was full of solemnity.
"How strong is this guy now?"
Tokikake spat out the cigarette in his mouth.
"Who knows? A monster in every sense. He can fight the three Admirals into this state."
Momonga was wrapped in bandages, a cigar clenched between his teeth.
"His strength has already reached a level I can't understand. If only he were still in the Navy."
Onigumo was also covered in bandages. Hearing that, he said harshly, "Keeping him in the Navy would've been a disaster. He would've caused a huge mess sooner or later."
Gion and the others could not be bothered to argue with him.
Everyone knew why this had happened.
Back when that guy was still in the Navy, he had not caused any major trouble.
"Your power and speed are both wrong."
Borsalino shook his numb arm and looked at White Ghost seriously.
"Heh."
White Ghost grinned.
"This is what talent looks like."
"Do I look like I believe that?"
Borsalino looked at the green glow beneath White Ghost's feet.
"You're fusing elements into your body to increase your strength?"
Boom.
The instant White Ghost moved, another sonic boom rang out. Borsalino and the other two immediately tensed.
White Ghost was far more terrifying than before.
His strength and speed had increased. His offensive power had also risen sharply.
The most troublesome part was still his Haki. It poured out like it cost nothing.
Every slash he sent out carried Haki. Even his fire and lightning were coated in it. None of the three Admirals dared underestimate a single attack.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios